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[National Library of Medicine HF0803 This transfer made: 03/08/06 Length: 00:22:00]
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[V.D.? See Your Doctor]
[Presented By The Department of National Health and Welfare]
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[Narrator:] This is the twentieth century, modern man moving quickly about his business.
Moving forward in a world of progress.
A world so filled with today's transactions, man seldom finds time to look back.
Until something extraordinary happens and he has no choice.
If this prehistoric monster appeared in the mainstream of traffic in any twentieth century city,
modern man would forget today's progress, even if for just as long enough to get out of the way.
He'd be reduced to the single basic drive every man has inherited from his ancestors:
the instinct of self-preservation.
The chances of meeting a dinosaur in today’s world are very slim.
But the possibility of contacting another kind of prehistoric monster is all too real.
This monster is venereal disease.
This is an enlarged reproduction of the germ known as gonococcus, the germ of gonorrhea,
a disease known five thousand years ago to the Chinese, and to the ancient Arabs, Greeks,
Hindus, and Romans.
Still known today in the modern world of the twentieth century.
These are spirochete germs, shaped like corkscrews.
Syphilis germs, first referred to in European writings of the fifthteenth century.
Syphilis has kept pace with a changing world for four hundred years.
Promiscuity and ignorance of the causes and consequences of the venereal diseases
have contributed to their spread.
There is evidence that many young people do not know that gonorrhea and syphilis
are different diseases.
That they can be caught only by sexual relations,
and not just with an infected person of the opposite sex,
but also by homosexual practices.
Down through the years, much has been learned about gonorrhea and syphilis.
Modern medicine has developed drugs providing our present generation with effective cures.
Until today, here and now, these diseases have found a new ally, complacency.
Modern society has lost its fear to the point of carelessness.
And the monster venereal disease continues as a modern heritage.
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This young man, for instance, is a carrier.
That means he is carrying in his body the germs of gonorrhea.
He knows something is wrong, but still hasn't worked up the courage to talk to anyone about it.
The previous weekend, John's family went to the cottage.
On Saturday night, John and his buddy invited their girlfriends to the house for a few drinks.
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John has been going steady with Linda for six months now.
He thinks more of her than any girl he has gone with before,
and Linda feels the same way about John.
For the last three days, John has been feeling a painful burning sensation
each time he has urinated.
And now this morning there was a new problem.
John had seen a discharge down there and he knew it was pus.
Now he was scared.
What to do?
There's only one thing to do.
And John's friend urges him to do it, and now.
See his family doctor, and as soon as possible.
He's the only person who can give the right kind of advice.
[Doctor:] Well John, the microscopic examination confirms that the burning sensation you've been
feeling when you urinate, and also the discharge of pus that you saw this morning,
are symptoms of gonorrhea,
one of the venereal diseases.
Now gonorrhea can have very serious consequences in an adult male as times goes on,
if he does not receive the proper treatment.
You see the gonorrhea germs enter a man's body at the head of the penis.
They travel up and invade the lining of the urinary canal.
Inflammation results, and this is what causes the burning sensation during urination.
It also causes the discharges of pus from the penis.
These are symptoms of gonorrhea in the acute stage when it is very infectious.
And of course, anyone having such symptoms should abstain from all sexual relations.
[John:] I feel all right, doctor.
If I were infected, wouldn't the infection make me sick?
[Doctor:] Well, if you mean nauseated or headachy when you use the word sick, the answer is no.
But gonorrhea can cause complications that can completely disable a person, John.
And these complications can arise if you neglect proper treatment.
You see, the gonorrhea germs may extend deeper to involve the posterior part of the urinary canal,
the prostate gland, and sperm canal.
The infection may cause an abscess of the prostate gland
and inflammation of the spermatic cord.
Now this can result in sterility in a male.
Arthritis also can result from a neglected gonorrhea infection.
So you see John, if proper treatment isn't given as quickly as possible,
the subsequent complications can become life sentences for a man.
For example, he may never be a father.
Now fortunately, this disease can be cured with modern drugs.
But, tissues that are scarred and damaged from these complications can never be repaired.
[John:] All the time we've been talking, in fact ever since I first knew something was wrong,
I've been trying to figure out where I might have got this infection.
I've used the toilet in public restaurants during the last two weeks.
But they looked clean.
Maybe the dishes weren't sterilized, or...
[Doctor:] Now hold on a minute, John.
You can stop all your figuring, there is only one way that you could have contracted gonorrhea.
And that is through sexual intercourse with an infected person.
Now, there is no immunity to the disease, John.
A person can contract V.D. any number of times,
and furthermore, no reliance can be placed on contraceptives
as a means of preventing infection.
All this business about dirty dishes and unclean washrooms I'm afraid is just a lot of nonsense.
This is very important John.
It means that there is an infected girl who must be found and treated before her own health
can be dangerously affected, or before she passes the disease onto somebody else.
Now, I would like you to tell me who the girl or girls are with whom you may have had relations
during the past two weeks,
and how they can be located.
The health department will assist us in this.
It will be done with courtesy and in the strictest confidence.
The girl will not even be told who gave her name.
[John:] Uh well, there was only one girl.
But it couldn't have been her, doctor.
We've been going steady for several months.
[Doctor:] Well, you must have been infected by her, if she's the only one.
She should be examined and treated immediately.
Look, please try to understand how very important this is for her.
Now are you being truthful when you say there were no other contacts?
[John:] Yeah, she was the only one.
Besides, you must be wrong.
I just don't believe that she would have stayed with me knowing that I would get an infection.
[Doctor:] Well, that's the sad part of this whole thing, John.
This girl might be quite unaware as of yet that she is infected herself,
and naturally she wouldn't know that she's passed along the infection to you.
See, gonorrhea is not as easily detected in women as it is in men.
It may cause fewer symptoms.
But surely you can realize that you would be actually doing her a favor
by seeing to it that she has the benefit of medical examination.
[John:] Sure, I can see your point doctor, but I just can't believe it!
[Doctor:] Whether you believe it or not isn't important John, but we must know who she is.
[John:] Let me think about it for a while, doctor.
I'll, I'll come back after I've had a chance to do some thinking.
[Doctor:] Well, while you're taking your time John, just keep one thing in mind, will you?
Time is that girl's enemy right now.
And your silence could cripple her.
Now I know that you think you're being honorable in withholding her name,
but your mistaken sense of honor could easily lead to serious illness.
Look, she has passed gonorrhea on to you, John.
But if she has been promiscuous with other men, she may also be carrying
the germs of syphilis in her body.
Now, syphilis is even more devastating than gonorrhea if it isn't properly treated.
Do you want to be an accomplice to this
by keeping your secret
when you're in a position to help?
[John:] All right doctor.
It's Linda Miller.
She works as a secretary for one of the manufacturing plants in town.
[Doctor:] I know you don't think so now John, but I know that you'll be glad that you've told me.
[Department Of Public Health]
[Linda walks into the doctor’s office.]
[Miss Johnson:] So that's why we called you here.
Why we think that you may have a venereal disease isn't important Linda--
the important thing is that you see your doctor without delay.
He'll examine you and have the laboratory test done.
If you are infected, immediate treatment is terribly important.
[Linda:] Wherever you're getting your information, Miss Johnson,
all I can say to you is that you've got the wrong girl.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to be getting along.
[Miss Johnson:] Linda, let me explain some of the simple facts about venereal disease to you.
Hear me out.
Then if you still want to leave, you're quite free to go.
Gonorrhea in women or girls may cause very few symptoms.
When symptoms do occur, usually they take the form of a burning sensation during urination.
Or there may be a vaginal discharge.
Now even when these symptoms do occur, they're often ignored.
They may even disappear in a short time.
But the gonorrhea germs do not disappear.
They multiply and they travel.
Now if early treatment is not given, the infection can spread to the uterus.
And from there to the fallopian tubes.
Inflammation in the fallopian tubes can cause serious illness.
The scarring which results may cause sterility.
Sterility, Linda.
A small word with a world of meaning.
You know what that can mean to a girl?
No babies.
Instead of the joy of a family of her own,
the memory of an illness which could have been completely prevented.
Now, as I said before Linda, you're perfectly free to go.
But I'd like you to stay.
We can discuss this problem.
This is a problem Linda, a very serious one.
And only you can solve it for yourself.
Won't you stay?
[Linda:] All right Miss Johnson, I'll stay,
but I don't see how this problem applies to me.
I feel all right.
In fact, I have trouble keeping my weight down, I have such a good appetite.
If I do have this thing, wouldn't I know it?
[Ms. Johnson:] Perhaps the worst aspect of the venereal diseases is that the early signs and symptoms
may be overlooked.
Or passed off as some other illness.
Now I've already mentioned that gonorrhea may cause few or very mild symptoms in women.
It can be detected only by medical examination and laboratory test,
and cured only by proper treatment from your physician.
Now the first stage of syphilis in a woman may show itself by a chancre or a sore
forming on the outside genital area.
But often, the chancre forms internally.
Now it’s typically small and painless, and because it is painless and usually hidden,
syphilis often goes undetected until it's reached an advanced stage.
Now, even in the later stages, syphilis may show itself by symptoms
that are mistaken for other temporary, minor illnesses.
Skin rash and swollen glands may appear six to eight weeks after the chancre has cleared up.
A sore throat and a fever may occur.
Small sores may appear around the mouth.
Patches of hair may fall out.
Now, any one or all of these symptoms may occur.
But often their true nature isn't realized because they are so common to other illnesses.
Unfortunately, often syphilis is not diagnosed until it has caused permanent damage to the heart,
or nervous system.
[Linda:] But if the infection is noticed soon enough, isn't there some kind of medicine
that a person could buy at a drug store to clear it up?
[Miss Johnson:] Linda, there isn't any kind of medicine that can be bottled or [?]
to cure a venereal disease.
One must rely on proper drugs prescribed by a doctor.
Now any person who's foolish enough to believe that a bottle of pills or a tube of ointment
in a plain wrapper might be effective in the treatment or cure of venereal disease
is going to very sorry later in life.
[Linda:] I don't remember that chancre you described.
And I'd certainly remember that burning feeling if I ever had it.
In fact, I don't seem to have any of the symptoms at all.
So how can you be so sure I have an infection?
[Miss Johnson:] I'm not sure, Linda!
In fact I, I sincerely hope you're right.
But the only way we can know, either of us for sure, is for you to be examined by your own doctor.
Look, think about it this way for a moment,
in a few years’ time you are very likely to be getting married.
But if a woman with untreated syphilis becomes pregnant,
she could pass this disease onto her unborn child.
Now, that means that it’s possible that the baby could be born dead or deformed.
Now before your wedding, your doctor will advise a blood test.
If you are infected, wouldn't you rather find out about it now?
Get the proper treatment and be cured?
Instead of waiting two or three days before your wedding date?
Venereal disease does not go away by ignoring it, Linda.
Please, don't wait any longer.
And Linda, if you are infected, the doctor will ask you for the name of the person
who gave you the disease.
Now please cooperate so that the proper steps...
[Linda:] Proper steps?
What does that mean?
And anyway, how would I know how I got the disease even if I was infected, or where?
These germs must be everywhere.
I could have picked it up from a toilet seat some place.
[Miss Johnson:] Linda, it just doesn't happen that way.
Venereal disease is transmitted from one adult to another through intimate sexual contact.
Now look, and I'm not stressing this because I want to pry into your private life,
but if you are infected, I'm asking you to tell the doctor in private the name of the person
who passed venereal disease to you.
He may have infected others and they'll infect still others.
It's your serious responsibility to protect the health of other people as well as your own.
Now you can do this by giving the doctor the information he asks for
so that all contacts can be located, and like you,
be given the benefit of an examination and treatment if necessary.
[Linda:] And what happens after I tell the doctor who it is?
[Miss Johnson:] The doctor may contact him, or he may obtain the help
of trained health department people to follow up the case.
Either way, tact and discretion are used to avoid any embarrassment.
[Linda:] I don't see how that can be done in my case.
Last month I had my first experience, with a man quite a lot older than I am.
It only happened once.
I didn't know it could lead to this.
He was staying at the summer resort where I was spending my holidays.
I know his name but I don't know where he lives.
I don't think he comes from this part of the country at all.
[Miss Johnson:] All you can do is give his name and the name of the summer resort to the doctor.
He'll take it from there.
Now, let's make an appointment with your family doctor.
[Nurse:] Dr. Ferguson, this is Linda Miller.
[Dr. Ferguson:] Hello Linda, come in.
Won't you sit down?
[She looks at the nurse who gives her the nod of approval.]
[Linda:] Hello doctor. Miss Johnson, the public health nurse, told me it’s possible
that I might have an infection.
That's what I came to see you about.
[Narrator:] These two young people, by a chain of circumstances, contracted venereal disease.
But fortunately their infection was detected early enough and treatment begun in time to cure it
before serious consequences could result.
But what of the man quite a lot older than Linda?
Will he be so fortunate?
Linda's doctor and public health personnel will do everything possible to find him and treat him.
But how many others will become infected before the chain of infection is broken?
[Dr. Ferguson:] Venereal diseases are no respecters of persons.
The health of thousands of our people is threatened by the increase
in the incidence of venereal diseases.
The medical profession and public health departments,
are concerned by the widespread occurrence of infectious syphilis and gonorrhea.
Public clinics provide free treatment in most communities.
But they can't help without your cooperation.
Venereal disease can affect people of any age.
Not even the unborn baby is safe from the body-destroying menace of venereal disease.
Ignorance, apathy, relaxation of moral standards are its allies.
Linda discovered this the difficult way, by experience.
Education and a constant awareness of the danger of promiscuous sexual behavior
must become a part of our daily life.
[Narrator:] This is the twentieth century, but how many of us in our modern age are still
in a prehistoric stage in our thinking about venereal disease.
Why has venereal disease continued as a blight on society down through the ages,
when it should be as extinct as this dinosaur in this day of scientific marvel?
How long will it take society to develop a social conscious as advanced
as the material gains we now enjoy?
Can syphilis and gonorrhea be eradicated before we defeat complacency and ignorance?
Can our generation govern its own behavior sufficiently to abolish the menace
of venereal disease for future generations?
[Director Karl Konnry, Producer Jim McCormick, In charge of Production, Hugh Moreland]
[Director of Photography Stanley Lipinski, Editor Joan Clarke,
Sound Hans-Peter Muller, Camera Assistant Fred Wolff]
[Julie Rekai-Linda Miller, Sandra Scott-Public Health Nurse, Cecil Montgomery-Family Doctor,
Dennis Sweeting-Dr. Ferguson, John Kastner-John]
[Produced by Moreland-Latchford Productions LTD.]
[A Department of National Health and Welfare Presentation]